Comments on: Dealmonger: Craftsman Digital Mini-Multimeter for $10 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:14:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Crashin http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-36772 Crashin Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:37:41 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-36772 So where can a person find good resources for learning to properly use a Multimeter. I understand some electrical basics, but I am far from ever becoming an electrical engineer. So where can a person find good resources for learning to properly use a Multimeter. I understand some electrical basics, but I am far from ever becoming an electrical engineer.

]]> By: Abe http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-35003 Abe Sat, 17 Mar 2007 02:56:26 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-35003 Picked it up today. Very nice. Looks/feels durable, easily readable. Has a nice "kickstand". I would and have recommended it to my friends. Abe Picked it up today. Very nice. Looks/feels durable, easily readable. Has a nice “kickstand”. I would and have recommended it to my friends.

Abe

]]> By: Kurt Schwind http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34731 Kurt Schwind Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:24:56 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34731 Not to spam the comments area but: What I'd really like to see is an inexpensive oscilloscope. I still don't have one of those but I'd love to get one if they came down in price. Not to spam the comments area but: What I’d really like to see is an inexpensive oscilloscope. I still don’t have one of those but I’d love to get one if they came down in price.

]]> By: Kurt Schwind http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34729 Kurt Schwind Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:22:27 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34729 I have an inexpensive one (probably less than $15) that I got from the Rat Shack about 10 years ago. It does all the basics. Voltmeter, Amps, Resistance, but mostly I use it as a continuity tester. Everyone needs one and now that the prices have come down, everyone should slap one in their toolbox. I have an inexpensive one (probably less than $15) that I got from the Rat Shack about 10 years ago. It does all the basics. Voltmeter, Amps, Resistance, but mostly I use it as a continuity tester. Everyone needs one and now that the prices have come down, everyone should slap one in their toolbox.

]]> By: Abe http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34519 Abe Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:41:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34519 Bought online last night. Will pickup tommorow. I'll report back my experience Friday night. Bought online last night. Will pickup tommorow. I’ll report back my experience Friday night.

]]> By: Crashin http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34394 Crashin Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:23:37 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34394 I ordered mine online and went to pick it up last night. I ordered mine online and went to pick it up last night.

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34248 Nate Bezanson Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:21:58 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34248 Interesting article! Applies to all meters, too. I think it boils down to "don't be an idiot" and "remember that you're working on live equipment". I know the Craftsman meters have at least two fuses in them -- a 10 or 20 amp fuse protecting the ammeter shunt, and a sub-amp (800ma in mine) fuse protecting the measurement and display electronics. Shrouded banana plugs are getting common too, so that if you connect the leads to something while they're (partially) unplugged from the meter, the likelihood of a short is lower. Unfortunately, there seems to be no standard for the size or shape of the shroud, even within a single brand. I have two Craftsman meters of similar vintage (both less than 3 years old) and their leads don't fit each other because of this. Interesting article! Applies to all meters, too. I think it boils down to “don’t be an idiot” and “remember that you’re working on live equipment”. I know the Craftsman meters have at least two fuses in them — a 10 or 20 amp fuse protecting the ammeter shunt, and a sub-amp (800ma in mine) fuse protecting the measurement and display electronics.

Shrouded banana plugs are getting common too, so that if you connect the leads to something while they’re (partially) unplugged from the meter, the likelihood of a short is lower. Unfortunately, there seems to be no standard for the size or shape of the shroud, even within a single brand. I have two Craftsman meters of similar vintage (both less than 3 years old) and their leads don’t fit each other because of this.

]]> By: db http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34229 db Thu, 15 Mar 2007 01:02:37 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34229 article can be found at www.esasafe.com/fe/pdf/Multi-meter_Accident_Prevention_Plan.pdf article can be found at http://www.esasafe.com/fe/pdf/Multi-meter_Accident_Prevention_Plan.pdf

]]> By: db http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34228 db Thu, 15 Mar 2007 01:00:16 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34228 Before anyone uses this meter, they should check out this article from the Electrical Safety Authority. Before anyone uses this meter, they should check out this article from the Electrical Safety Authority.

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34116 Nate Bezanson Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:05:38 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34116 Type K is the ancient, but standard, thermocouple for everyday temperature ranges that mere mortals encounter. A few months ago my local Sears was clearing out type-K thermocouples on 36" leads for 5 bucks each, with the traditional flat-bladed mini plug. This appears to use the banana jacks for its thermocouple, which means it won't work with standard type-Ks unless you find an adapter. No biggie, but the additional metal-to-metal joints introduce temperature sensitive variations. (Look up the Peltier-Seebeck effect, and the "cold side" compensation required to read a thermocouple.) For ten bucks, I'm jumping in the car right now.. Type K is the ancient, but standard, thermocouple for everyday temperature ranges that mere mortals encounter. A few months ago my local Sears was clearing out type-K thermocouples on 36″ leads for 5 bucks each, with the traditional flat-bladed mini plug.

This appears to use the banana jacks for its thermocouple, which means it won’t work with standard type-Ks unless you find an adapter. No biggie, but the additional metal-to-metal joints introduce temperature sensitive variations. (Look up the Peltier-Seebeck effect, and the “cold side” compensation required to read a thermocouple.)

For ten bucks, I’m jumping in the car right now..

]]> By: Rick http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34101 Rick Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:36:15 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34101 Nevermind: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermocouple#Different_types Nevermind:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermocouple#Different_types

]]> By: Rick http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34100 Rick Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:33:29 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/03/14/dealmonger-craftsman-digital-mini-multimeter-for-10/#comment-34100 Yeah, I've got a nice Fluke that a previous tenant left in a box of old computer hardware in the apartment when he moved. But this seems more functional - thermometer? "allows for surface or air temperature measurements." That's pretty cool. Now what's Type K? Yeah, I’ve got a nice Fluke that a previous tenant left in a box of old computer hardware in the apartment when he moved. But this seems more functional - thermometer? “allows for surface or air temperature measurements.” That’s pretty cool.

Now what’s Type K?

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